Nigeria and EU Finalize Readmission Agreement for Migrants

Nigeria and the European Union have concluded negotiations on a readmission agreement, which is expected to be formally signed soon. This agreement aims to facilitate the return of Nigerians lacking legal grounds to remain in EU member states and marks a significant milestone in migration cooperation after nearly ten years of discussions.

The announcement was made by Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria's Minister of Interior, during a meeting with EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner. The agreement will strengthen cooperation in border security, identity verification, and combatting human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the agreement is not just about returning Nigerians but also about creating a dignified migration management framework. Additionally, Nigeria has digitized over 17 million migration records to enhance identification and verification processes for returning Nigerians.

The government is also working on similar arrangements with the United Kingdom and is in discussions with the United States.